F.—4.

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any of the solid and prospective advantages which the proposal of the Oceanic Steamship Company of California offers to New Zealand. (a.) It offers the cheapest and shortest mail-service to England. (b.) It guarantees the absolute security of mails, treasure, and passengers during war. (c.) It opens and insures the American market to New Zealand, which would be closed against it by adopting the Canadian postal route. (d.) It identifies the trade and industries of New Zealand with the commerce and industries of the United States, and its adoption by New Zealand would create a moral claim for special tariff consideration by the United States Congress. (c.) It would develop a large tourist and passenger travel, thereby encouraging the expenditure of money in the colony, benefiting local trade and transportation agencies, while making the varied attractions of the colony familiar to intelligent strangers from all parts of the world, thus inducing settlement and industrial progress. (/.) It would strengthen (instead of weakening, as other mail projects would do) the naval power of England in the Pacific, and promote friendly relations between England and the United States. 15. These are a few of the points in favour of the Oceanic Steamship Company's proposal for a fortnightly postal service between the colonies and San Francisco. The Oceanic Company has established a claim for consideration by the Government of New Zealand through the very efficient and reliable service it has performed for a period of nearly four years. Its past performance and ready compliance with all requirements of the Government are a guarantee that all future obligations undertaken by it will be well and efficiently performed. I have, &c, Eobt. J. Creighton, Eepresenting the Oceanic Steamship Company of California. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, Post Office, Wellington.

No. 81. The Hon. Sir Henry Parkes to the Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 14th March, 1889. Would you be willing to join us in asking Union Steamship Company to renew contract for a fourweekly mail-service between Sydney, Auckland, and San Francisco for another twelve months on same terms as at present, with the stipulation that no Chinese are to be employed on the steamers ? The Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, Wellington. Henry Parkes, Colonial Secretary.

No. 82. The Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson to the Hon. the Premier, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 15th March, 1889. Eegret that, owing to action of Parliament last year, we can do nothing towards renewal of Frisco service without first consulting Parliament, which will not meet until June. The Hon. the Premier, Sydney. . 11. A. Atkinson.

No. 83. The Hon. Sir Henry Parkes to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 29th March, 1889. Be your telegram of fifteenth March : As delay in negotiating for year's renewal Frisco contract might be prejudicial to colonies' interests, we propose arranging for such renewal on our own responsibility, but hope after your Parliament has met in June that you will see your way to rejoin us. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Henry Parkes.

No. 84. The Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson to the Hon. the Premier, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 3rd April, 1889. Am glad to learn that you will arrange Frisco service on your own responsibility. Can make no promise to rejoin, but any proposal that may be received by the Government will be submitted to Parliament. The Hon. the Premier, Sydney. H. A. Atkinson.

No. 85. The Hon. D. O'Connor to the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 9th April, 1889. Should we decide on renewing Frisco contract for another year, and should your Government be unable to rejoin, what sum do you think your postages would amount to at usual rates of twentyfive shillings and fourpence per pound, &c, supposing my Government agreed to carry your mails for such postages ? D. O'Connor, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. Postmaster-General.